NRL 'Rife With Cocaine, Gambling, Prostitution'

Newsroom

Posted on October 27, 2017

In another black-eye to rugby league, Strike Force Nuralda, which was set up to investigate allegations of match-fixing in the National Rugby League, has revealed that drugs, gambling and prostitution are rife within top-level circles of the game.

While no organised match-fixing was detected, police did find that inside information is being traded.

Under the NSW Crimes Act it is a criminal offence, punishable by up to two years in prison, to pass on inside information which is then used to place a bet.

A police statement revealed, "While investigators were provided information and noted suspicious betting behaviour, no one has been or will be prosecuted under Strike Force Nuralda,"

No charges could be laid over insider trading on games as a prosecution has to be launched within six months of the offence happening.

According to the police statement, detectives from Strike Force Nuralda met with the NRL to raise concerns about the integrity of the code being compromised by the infiltration of organised crime and by practices that are deemed as high-risk for the NRL.

Sources told Fairfax Media that this included the supply of drugs and prostitutes.

Information relating to money laundering and drug supply, unrelated to the NRL, are still being investigated.